1. Select A Project
Scientific Discovery Begins with Curiosity
Over the last 100 years, our understanding of the world has evolved tremendously. Much of what we’ve learned has come from scientists who have had questions about the world and the way things worked. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Alfred Wegener questioned whether the continents had once formed a single land mass and then drifted apart, and astronomers wondered if the Milky Way Galaxy was the entire universe. Today, we know that plate tectonics is a major force that shapes Earth’s surface, and that the universe stretches far beyond our galaxy.
Each year our Museum scientists go on expeditions to pursue the answers to their own questions. They travel across the planet to places as far away as the island of Madagascar and as close as Central Park in New York City. These scientists observe, predict, gather data, and document what they find. With each careful, detailed field study, scientists add to the existing body of knowledge.
You Are Invited!
The Young Naturalist Awards program invites you explore the natural world around you. You can plan and conduct your own scientific investigation, one that will include observations, questions, predictions, trips into the field to gather data, and analysis. You are not expected to make a new scientific discovery. However, your investigation should provide you with a new understanding about your question. Tell us about your investigation in an essay that includes tables, charts, or graphs, and artwork, and photographs that help illustrate your findings. To learn more, see Selecting and Planning a Project below.
Essays can be mailed to the Museum beginning December 1, 2012, and received no later than March 1, 2013. Essays may also be submitted digitally and must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST, March 1, 2013. Judges will review each essay, and twelve winners, two from each grade, will be chosen. Winners and a parent or guardian, will be invited on an expense-paid trip to the Museum to attend an awards ceremony, receive cash prizes, and to take behind-the-scenes tours. In addition, their essays will be published on the Museum’s website. For more information regarding the awards and eligibility see Rules and Regulations.
Selecting and Planning a Project
Plan your own investigation!
You can plan your own scientific investigation whether you live in an urban, suburban or rural area. Your investigation should center around a question that you already have about the natural world or it may uncover a question. To get ideas, read the essays of past winners on this website and learn how they conducted their investigations. Choose a topic in one of the following areas: biology, ecology, Earth science, or astronomy. Use The Process of Science to help you plan and conduct your research.
| The Process of Science Make Observations Go to a natural area--a park, a stream, or a backyard. Take a notebook. Look closely; listen carefully. What do you notice? What sparks your curiosity? Ask Questions What questions do you have about what you’ve seen? Can doing research and collecting data answer them? Formulate a specific question that will be the focus of your investigation. It must be a question that can be answered through scientific research. See: Do Background Research Research your topic to learn more about it. Check out governmental and academic websites. Consult scientific books and journals. If possible, interview an expert in the field. Make Predictions or Set a Goal Based on your research and your observations so far, you may want to state a hypothesis. The hypothesis is a possible explanation or answer to your question. If you are not ready to present a hypothesis you can wait until you have collected more data. Use the hypothesis to make a prediction: a testable statement that describes what you think the outcome of the investigation will be. If you are doing a field study state the goal or objective of your investigation. Plan Procedures to Gather Data Decide what data you will need to evaluate your prediction or to achieve the goal you set. Make a plan for collecting data and write it down. You can gather data by making observations, taking measurements, conducting an experiment, or making a model. Collect, Organize, and Display Data Collect your data in an organized way. Make sure you have enough data to answer your question. Present your data in charts, tables, or graphs so that it can be easily shared and analyzed. Use Data as Evidence to Evaluate Your Predictions or Goals Once you’ve analyzed your data the results become your evidence. The evidence will allow you to support or reject your hypothesis. Or it will help you meet the goal or objective of your field study. Gather Feedback and Revise Prepare a draft of your essay (see Essay Checklist and the YNA Judging Rubric 2013 below). Have your teacher, mentor, or a classmate read the draft. Ask for suggestions on how your essay could be improved. Revise your essay. Prepare Your Final Report Be sure to include any new questions that came about as the result of your investigation and suggestions for further research. |
Do I have to go outside to conduct my research?
We want our participants to explore the natural world. If you can relate an indoor experiment to an investigation in the natural world, then that is acceptable. If you have questions regarding this, contact the Young Naturalist Awards Administrator at yna@amnh.org.
How do I conduct background research to learn more about my topic?
Once you have a topic or a good question, do research to learn more about it. Go to outside sources such as books, science magazines, and websites. (Be careful to select reputable websites associated with universities, government organizations, and museums. User-generated websites, such as Wikipedia, can be informative, but are not always accurate.) If possible, find an expert in the field that you can interview. Use the information you gather to guide your investigation. See Research Project Overview in the Read the Rules section.
What is a prediction?
A prediction is what you think the outcome of your investigation will be. A prediction should be based on your initial research and observations.
How do I begin my investigation?
Start by making a plan. Think about what you’ve already learned through research and observations. Decide what information you will need, how you will collect the information, and how you will record it. You can record information in a chart, table, or list. Document your information using photographs.
You may need materials or equipment to conduct your research. If you are testing water, for example, you will need a water-testing kit. You might also need a thermometer to test the temperature of the water and the air. If you are taking measurements, you will need a tape measure. Field guides will help you identify plants and animals. Prepare all necessary items before visiting your site. See Plan Your Own Investigation above.
How can I record data?
Keeping a field journal is a helpful way to record your expedition activities, observations, and questions. You may also use your journal to make drawings or to record data in charts to help keep your information organized. Photographs of your site or of the specimens you find is another good way of collecting data.
Most importantly, set up controls to insure the data you collect is accurate. If, for example, you are taking temperature readings at a pond each day, make sure you take the temperature readings at the same time each day. Water temperature can fluctuate over the course of a day, so taking temperature readings at the same time will provide you with more consistent and reliable data.
What do I do after I've collected all my data?
The next step is to analyze your findings. Look at your data: your observations, measurements, sketches, photographs, notes, and the information you gathered from outside resources. Use this evidence to decide whether or not your hypothesis is supported or whether the goal or objective you set has been achieved.
Will feedback help?
Sharing your work with others can be very valuable. Your teacher, mentor, or a classmate can point out areas where your essay can be improved. Maybe a section needs to be made clearer? Look over the feedback you receive and use it to revise your essay.
How do I prepare a final report?
Present your findings in a narrative essay. Begin by outlining what your essay will include and in what order. Combine the personal story of your investigation with sound facts, detailed observations, and insightful questions. Write about what inspired you and what you learned. Use drawings and photographs to further the reader’s understanding of your research topic and findings. Photographs are required as they document your research.
Remember to properly cite your sources. For more information, see How to Avoid Plagiarism:
Review the contest rules. Look at the YNA Judging Rubric 2013 below to see how your essay will be evaluated.